The government has dismissed allegations that it has tabled a new Finance Bill before Parliament containing a raft of outrageous tax proposals.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday evening, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura clarified that the budget process was still ongoing and it was only after the budget process that the government would decide whether to come up with a Finance Bill.
During the presser, Mwaura accused a section of Kenyans of using social media platforms to spread false narratives aimed at inciting others against the current regime.
He claimed that there was a deliberate campaign of misinformation, disinformation, and falsehoods spread on social media by individuals who did not wish to see Kenya succeed.
“The government acknowledges the allegations that there is a Finance Bill 2025. First and foremost, we strongly and unequivocally condemn the false narrative. There is no Finance Bill currently before Parliament or under consideration,” Mwaura clarified.
He added, “These are enemies of progress, those who thrive on chaos and economic instability. They aim to undermine the government's fiscal responsibility and drive us back into unnecessary domestic and international borrowing.”
According to Mwaura, the government's objective was not to introduce new taxes but rather to optimise the current tax system to ensure the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected adequate finances.
He indicated that if every Kenyan paid their fair share of taxes, the government would have enough legal frameworks in place to support the upcoming Ksh4.2 trillion budget without introducing new taxes.
“Our focus is on easing the tax burden, strengthening revenue collection systems, and securing Kenya's economic sovereignty. Let us not be swayed by falsehoods; there is no Finance Bill,” Mwaura stated.
His clarification comes on the back of Molo Member of Parliament Kimani Kuria's sentiments that the government could introduce new taxes in the Finance Bill 2025 in case of shortfalls in the 2025/2026 budget.
Speaking on NTV on Tuesday, April 8, Kuria, who is the Chairperson of the National Assembly Finance Committee, said that between April and June, the government would assess whether the money collected through revenue is sufficient to fund the country's budget, failure of which would mean more taxes.
“The question becomes, is that sufficient to finance the budget? If that is not sufficient, there will be additional tax measures to raise additional revenue to fund that budget,” he stated.
“But if there is evidence to show that the already existing tax measures, the appropriation in aid raised, and the donor commitments we have are sufficient to finance the ceilings, then there will not be a need for a finance bill," he added.
